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Katana ( Book #1) by Cole Gibsen

Katana

Kill Bill meets Buffy in this supernatural samurai tale.
Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline gave her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of fifteenth-century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings. While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.
Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: March 8th 2012 by Flux

(MY THOUGHTS) 5 HEARTS!!!!!

Katana is a fantastic kick-ass novel with humor, drama, action and romance. Cole Gibsen is right when she says it’s a Kill Bill meets Buffy in a supernatural samurai tale. Gibsen is also a fantastic kick-ass writer. I enjoyed the way she delivered this fascinating storyline, and I'm so glad to know there will be a second book coming out in March 2013.

Rileigh's just completed her junior year of high school, and she and her best friend Quentin are on their way to an end-of-school party when three muggers have different plans for Rileigh. When Rileigh beats up all three muggers, she knows something strange is happening, and she definitely knows something is not right when Kim, the good looking eighteen year old Asian guy, tells her she is his reincarnated love of his life and a samurai warrior, Senshi. Rileigh wants off this insane rollercoaster ride and to just go back to being the normal skater teenager before the three muggers and gorgeous Kim came along and sent her heart racing.

There're also three more characters I really liked: Michelle, Braden, and Drew. All three are fun, but Michelle and Braden’s relationship was definitely a different kind of romance. They are samurai too, and trying to help Kim to show Rileigh the truth about who she is. Kim's love for Rileigh stole my heart. Kim is a guy of few words, but the words he does say are heart-melting. Kim is swoon-worthy.

Katana is a Kick-ass novel about a kick-ass, tough, skater, samurai girl named Rileigh who awakens to a life she never thought she could have, with a love she thought was only in fairytales. I recommend Katana as a must read.